I, Robot

04:02 PM CDT on Thursday, May 31, 2007

"R2-D2, one of two original Star Wars stars, celebrates 30 years of popularity."

Beginning May 25, 1977, movie-goers fell in love with a beeping meter-tall robot named R2-D2 when the original Star Wars film (later retitled Episode IV: The New Hope) debuted in theaters. "Artoo", as he was nicknamed, was paired with a more humanoid robot named C-3PO, or "Threepio" for short. The pair became so popular and timeless, that they went on to star in the subsequent five Star Wars episodes.

The robotic pair provides some comic relief in the films, but their characters also serve real functions to their owners. Artoo, an astromech droid and the bravest of the two, is loaded with some useful tools, helping him make mechanical repairs, tap into computer systems, and operate machinery—often rescuing his human companions from certain doom; Threepio, a protocol droid, provides expertise in the etiquette of different species with the ability to translate more than six million languages. His programming also makes him prone to panic attacks and a bit of a coward and a whiner.

While Artoo and Threepio were not the first robots to appear on the big screen, they are inarguably the most famous worldwide. The pair, perhaps, gave audiences the most realistic view of how robots may serve people in the future.

So, 30 years after the film's release, are we any closer to this robot-reliant future? In this week's lesson, you will discover how technology is advancing in the field of robotics and get some insight into what considerations to make when designing your own robots for completing certain tasks.

Robotics Basics

"ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative MObility) is a humanoid robot built by the Honda Motor Company. As of 2007 to date, 46 of these robots exist and can be hired out for $166,000 for a year's service."

In 1206 A.D., Al-Jazari, an Arab inventor, designed what is believed to be the first programmable humanoid robot. He built a boat carrying four automatic musicians that floated on a lake to entertain guests at royal drinking parties. The robotic musicians were powered by water flow and driven by a purely mechanical design, similar to how a windmill works.

As imagination and innovation has evolved over the years, robots have become more sophisticated. To get a look at modern robotics, visit the Tech Museum of Innovation's Robotics gallery. Jump into Universal Robots: The History and Workings of Robotics, reading the introduction. Also, watch the video of Robotics researcher Hans Moravec of Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute as he discusses the definition of what a robot is. How would you define what a robot is? In what ways do and will computer chips play a vital role in the development of functional robots?

Next, learn about Working robots, making sure to go through both pages in this section. In what jobs and for what reasons are robots better than employing humans? What percentage of today's functioning robots are working in these types of jobs?

As you will soon discover, robots also get some opportunities for Playing and Exploring, thanks to human ingenuity and curiosity. Continue through the section, learning about how robots are advancing in their abilities for Moving, Sensing, Thinking, and Living.

"Robug III can walk and climb and is designed to operate in radioactive areas, like the core of a nuclear reactor."

In what ways are robots different from stand-alone computers and electric motors? How exactly can artificial intelligence be created? Sketch Moravec's 4-stage evolution timeline for later reference, and discuss Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics with classmates.

Make a list of machines you are familiar with that can move and describe how they move, as best as you can. Make another list of machines that can sense, and describe what and how they sense. Do you know of any that can think?

Design Your Own

Brainstorm with classmates and make a list of any type of robots described or appearing in television programs, movies, books, or short stories. Together, make a list of those robots, describing any practical functions they serve, and how they might move, sense, think, or live.

"Is C-3PO properly built for the tasks he performs?"

Which robots are unrealistic, based on what you have learned about robotic technologies? Where would each of them fall based on Moravec's 4-stage evolution timeline? In what ways did these robots integrate with or influence the human cultures in which they operated?

Next, take a trip to the Museum of Science to Design Your Own Robot. Click the hand to get started. For each robot you build, you will need to consider six major characteristics: looks, sensing, movement, manipulation, energy, and intelligence. Read the introduction, and click the hand again. Select your robot's characteristics to best fit the task. After completing your selections, get feedback on your design. Go back to change one or more of your selections for the task if you would like, and then sketch your final design. Label each feature's function and record the task description at the top of the page.

Repeat the design process for at least three different tasks. Share your robot designs with classmates and discuss.